The maxillæ are developed to form the long sucking proboscis. How do
they fit together to form a tube? (See Fig. 147.) The proboscis varies
from a fraction of an inch in the “miller” to five inches in some
tropical moths, which use it to extract nectar from long tubular
flowers. When not in use, it is held coiled like a watch spring under
the head (Fig. 148). The upper lip (labrum), under lip (labium), and lip
fingers (labial palpi) are very small, and the mandibles small or
wanting (Fig. 146).
The metamorphosis is complete, the contrast between the caterpillar or
larva of the moth and the butterfly and the adult form being very great.
The caterpillar has the three pairs of jointed legs typical of insects;
these are found near the head (Fig. 141). It has also from three to five
pairs of fleshy unjointed prolegs, one pair of which is always on the
last segment. How many pairs of prolegs has the silkworm caterpillar?
(Fig. 143.) The measuring worm, or looper? (Fig. 136.) The pupa has a
thin shell. Can you see external signs of the antennæ, wings, and legs
in this stage? (Fig. 143.) The pupa is concealed by protective
coloration and is sometimes inclosed in a silken cocoon which was spun
by the caterpillar before the last moult. Hairy caterpillars are
uncomfortable for birds to eat. The naked and brightly marked ones
(examples of warning coloration) often contain an acrid and distasteful
fluid. The injuries from lepidoptera are done in the caterpillar stage.
The codling moth (Fig. 141) destroys apples to the estimated value of
$6,000,000 annually. The clothes moth (Fig. 171) is a household pest.
The tent caterpillar denudes trees of their leaves. The only useful
caterpillar is the silkworm (Fig. 143). In Italy and Japan many of the
country dwellings have silk rooms where thousands of these caterpillars
are fed and tended by women and children. Why is the cabbage butterfly
so called? Why can it not eat cabbage? Why does sealing clothes in a
paper bag prevent the ravages of the clothes moth?
=Flight of Lepidoptera.=—Which appears to use more exertion to keep
afloat, a bird or a butterfly? Explain why. Of all flying insects which
would more probably be found highest up mountains? How does the
butterfly suddenly change direction of flight? Does it usually fly in a
straight or a zigzag course? Advantage of this? Bright colours are
protective, as lepidoptera are in greatest danger when at rest on
flowers. Are the brightest colours on upper or under side of wings of
butterfly? Why? (Think of the colours in a flower.) Why is it better for
moths to hold their wings flat out when at rest? Where are moths during
the day? How can you test whether the colour of the wings is given by
the scales?
State =how moths and butterflies differ= in respect to: body, wings,
feelers, habits.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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